Anyone who doesn't know something needs to learn it. That doesnt mean this is confusing.
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XBL, XBLG, GP, GPU, GPPC : Microsoft should streamline its services
- Thread starter CliveLH
- Start date
Anyone who doesn't know something needs to learn it. That doesnt mean this is confusing.
Not lumped together. And Xbox.com would actually be great for the customer, since all the plans are well explained there.
Didn't think this one through, eh?
What do you mean not lumped together? It includes a gamepass ultimate membership.
And yeah the All Access membership is not well publicized even on their website so I doubt customers would even get all of that info. Depending on how the membership will evolve, it could add some mess to the mess already there.
Random example I encountered, on the XBL Gold store page they show W10 XBL enabled games for a reason that I cannot comprehend since online multiplayer is free on PC and that nothing requires that membership there. I would be foolish to assume that going on this website is a well designed experience.
In the end this convo reminds me that they have to streamline a lot of things before even getting to their services.
I do think it's got a bit messy. It's one thing for us but for someone new to gaming or new to Xbox it's a lot of somewhat overlapping and similar stuff to figure out. The naming is just a bit weird in places too. Why does Game Pass Ultimate include Xbox Live Gold when Game Pass and Xbox Live are completely separate concepts?
Perhaps it would be better to rename Game Pass Ultimate as just 'Xbox Ultimate'?
I also feel like Games with Gold feels a bit redundant in a world where Game Pass exists. Perhaps knock it on the head, focus on Game Pass, and make Gold a bit cheaper?
Perhaps it would be better to rename Game Pass Ultimate as just 'Xbox Ultimate'?
I also feel like Games with Gold feels a bit redundant in a world where Game Pass exists. Perhaps knock it on the head, focus on Game Pass, and make Gold a bit cheaper?
I disagree. I think it's very intuitive to parse that Gamepass gives you access to the games in the subscription service, just like any Xbox game. 'Ultimate' not only gives you Gold, but allows the service to span across Xbox and PC.
naming it Xbox Ultimate breaks the link between the service and vanilla Gamepass and is a far more confusion nomenclature.
consumers will be fine. AT&T and Verizon have multiple cellphone plans and average consumers seem to understand them just fine.
I think they called it Game Pass Ultimate because they want to push the Game Pass brand.
Or else just eliminate Gold.
Xbox Game Pass
Xbox Game Pass for PC
Xbox Game Pass Ultimate (Console + PC)
Conceptually, I don't understand why Gold should be a separate paid service. I mean, are there really that many people who subscribe to Game Pass on console who don't have a Gold subscription? Business-wise, I get it, of course. Right now it's really like they're just using XBLG as a way to upsell people to XGP: "You already have to pay for multiplayer, might as well just pay ~$5/more a month to get Game Pass!"
Multiplayer isn't really a premium extra. It's plumbing. I think it would be better if they "gave away" multiplayer to drive engagement with Xbox and Game Pass. Then a lot of the "confusion" instantly melts away. "Game Pass" is something I think average people can grok; it's a pass for games. $10/month on console or PC, or $15/month for both. Done.
Era usually underestimates the intelligence of the average consumer.
I feel like you're ignoring the precise thing that is unintuitive.
Xbox Game Pass and Xbox Live are wholly separate. You can have Live without Game Pass and vice versa. Yet the combined service contains only one of the brand names. It wouldn't be intuitive if the combined service was called Xbox Live Ultimate either.
Xbox Ultimate is a snappier name and the term ultimate clearly indicates the best deal, the everything deal, the all included deal.
I'm pretty sure cellphone plans are intentionally confusing to exploit average consumers, but whatever.
I think ultimately they need to make multiplayer free for everyone, drop Xbox Live Gold, go with Gamepass/Gamepass Ultimate.
1. Free Multiplayer
2. Xbox Gamepass
3. Xbox Gamepass Ultimate 'Includes Xcloud Streaming'
That would be perfect and if you want to gain more audience away from Playstation that would go a long way. If Microsoft believe they can turn Gold subscribers into higher paying Gamepass subscribers without putting multiplayer behind a paywall I think they would do it, you want more people in your ecosystem, playing games, spending, not less. Multiplayer barrier has always been an issues even if it makes bank, they just need to calculate the point were it's worth flipping, gamepass might do it, might not. Have to wait and see but hopefully a mic drop announcement they are saving for closer to launch.
1. Free Multiplayer
2. Xbox Gamepass
3. Xbox Gamepass Ultimate 'Includes Xcloud Streaming'
That would be perfect and if you want to gain more audience away from Playstation that would go a long way. If Microsoft believe they can turn Gold subscribers into higher paying Gamepass subscribers without putting multiplayer behind a paywall I think they would do it, you want more people in your ecosystem, playing games, spending, not less. Multiplayer barrier has always been an issues even if it makes bank, they just need to calculate the point were it's worth flipping, gamepass might do it, might not. Have to wait and see but hopefully a mic drop announcement they are saving for closer to launch.
so on the off chance someone doesn't know what differentiates Gamepass from Gamepass Ultimate, you want the service renamed to lose all connection to the 'Gamepass' brand that Microsoft has successfully pushed to millions of gamers?
Yeah why not include the free tier also. Makes it look like he's trying to set an agenda here.
Xbox Live: Is the general service.
Xbox Live Gold: is paid multiplayer and "Free" games,
Game Pass for Console: is Game Pass on console,
Game Pass for Windows: Is Game Pass on windows,
Game Pass Ultimate is the all inclusive package.
PlayStation Network is Sony's general service
PlayStation Plus is their "gold" equivalent
PlayStation Now, I guess, would be their Game Pass equivalent.
There isn't really much difference between them, Sony (I don't think) doesn't have two seperate PSNows nor do they have a combined package. I think Game Pass Ultimate would look better as Game Pass Gold, but I really doubt they need to streamline anything regardless. (Maybe Combined Game Pass Console/Windows) Highly doubt free multiplayer will ever be a thing again, those subs make far too much money.
Xbox Live Gold: is paid multiplayer and "Free" games,
Game Pass for Console: is Game Pass on console,
Game Pass for Windows: Is Game Pass on windows,
Game Pass Ultimate is the all inclusive package.
PlayStation Network is Sony's general service
PlayStation Plus is their "gold" equivalent
PlayStation Now, I guess, would be their Game Pass equivalent.
There isn't really much difference between them, Sony (I don't think) doesn't have two seperate PSNows nor do they have a combined package. I think Game Pass Ultimate would look better as Game Pass Gold, but I really doubt they need to streamline anything regardless. (Maybe Combined Game Pass Console/Windows) Highly doubt free multiplayer will ever be a thing again, those subs make far too much money.
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This reminds me of one of those infomercials for a new product, where some actor is doing things the "old" way like a clumsy moron.
XGP Ultimate isn't a tier, it's a bundle. "Xbox Live" isn't a tier either, it's just the name of Microsoft's online infrastructure.
The only real potential point of confusion, is the two versions of Game Pass. I think combining them together would make things simpler, but I also understand why they can't/don't: the games for XGP PC have to be separately licensed.
You've got two tiers of Xbox Live (Silver and Gold), and two versions of Game Pass (Xbox and PC). XGP Ultimate combines everything into a single monthly price. Not that difficult.
XGP Ultimate isn't a tier, it's a bundle. "Xbox Live" isn't a tier either, it's just the name of Microsoft's online infrastructure.
The only real potential point of confusion, is the two versions of Game Pass. I think combining them together would make things simpler, but I also understand why they can't/don't: the games for XGP PC have to be separately licensed.
You've got two tiers of Xbox Live (Silver and Gold), and two versions of Game Pass (Xbox and PC). XGP Ultimate combines everything into a single monthly price. Not that difficult.
I prefer the different options around MS services. I think most people who understand the tiered system would agree. XBL Gold has been around for 15+ years and I think the general public or casual gamer knows that it's $50-60 a year to play online.
If you asked me a couple of years ago, I would've thought that MS would've either dropped the MP paywall or included in into GamePass (all for $10/month). But since they've spent the last year plus pushing Ultimate and getting current subscribers to upgrade to it by extending current subscriptions by upgrading for $1, I don't think that's happening anytime soon. Why would they go through the trouble of having people upgrade from a $10/month subscription to a $15 if they are just going to make online free?
I think the only thing MS needs to better define is what XBL Gold is on its own. GWG has more or less become a complete after thought for the Xbox community with GamePass. Will that continue with Series X titles? Will they even offer free next gen games and remove 360 games? Will GWG go away completely and they offer something else? I'm curious to see how that will play out, but eventually I see MS pushing everyone onto one of their monthly subscription GamePass services
xCloud will eventually be tied into the different tiers of GP or GPU. They may offer it at a cheaper rate in emerging markets like India, Middle East and Africa where Xbox consoles are not common and they only want consumers to buy into a streaming subscription service to play on other devices
If you asked me a couple of years ago, I would've thought that MS would've either dropped the MP paywall or included in into GamePass (all for $10/month). But since they've spent the last year plus pushing Ultimate and getting current subscribers to upgrade to it by extending current subscriptions by upgrading for $1, I don't think that's happening anytime soon. Why would they go through the trouble of having people upgrade from a $10/month subscription to a $15 if they are just going to make online free?
I think the only thing MS needs to better define is what XBL Gold is on its own. GWG has more or less become a complete after thought for the Xbox community with GamePass. Will that continue with Series X titles? Will they even offer free next gen games and remove 360 games? Will GWG go away completely and they offer something else? I'm curious to see how that will play out, but eventually I see MS pushing everyone onto one of their monthly subscription GamePass services
xCloud will eventually be tied into the different tiers of GP or GPU. They may offer it at a cheaper rate in emerging markets like India, Middle East and Africa where Xbox consoles are not common and they only want consumers to buy into a streaming subscription service to play on other devices